This weekend two COC paddlers spent one day surfing in salt water and one in fresh water.

Friday Dounan and I met at Japes and geared him up - it was fun to see our yellow COC AllStar^? (nicknamed "Flight Risk") strapped on top of my car next to my "new" 09 AllStar^? (purchased 3 weeks ago in CO and nicknamed "Flight Risk II"). Why they are named "Flight Risk" is a long story we won't go into here.

Anyway, the two of us drove east into the night in the purple Fit with matching yellow AllStars^? on top, leaving all the running water in NY for a surfing weekend with the UMOC folks. In Northampton we picked up some books at Raven while waiting to met Dave & Jeff & co for dinner & dancing. Dragged ourselves out of Paradise City sometime around midnight or one AM, and got lost on the way to Marianne's house where we were staying. Eventually found our way there, and were greeted by Lindy and Marianne and crashed.

Saturday morning we got up and drove ourselves to pick up gear for Marianne and meet with the rest of the UMOC crew. After much organizing (I think I heard there were SEVENTEEN people on this trip spread among something like SIX cars) we got on the road and arrived at Misquamicut Beach in Rhode Island.

We unloaded, were instructed on safety, got a brief demonstration, and then Bob and Dave spent hours and hours up to their knees in surf, getting banged by us in and out of boats as they coached us individually in the Art of Surfing. Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/47911494@N06/sets/72157625091210630/

Late in the afternoon we reluctantly dragged ourselves up out of the water, brushed some of the sand off our gear and ourselves (I still think I have some sandruff in my scalp) and headed to Noank CT to Abbots for seafood. Going there was especially fun for me - I have good memories of that place from when I was doing my graduate work in CT (15+ years ago).

After dinner we headed back to drop off UMOC gear and everyone dispersed. Dave came over to Marianne's with Dounan and me for a few beers.

Sunday morning we slept in and then Marianne, Dounan, and I tried to find Wave-o-saurus, a surfing wave that shows up in the Connecticut River in Holyoke during times of high water. Unfortunately the map and coordinates at the AW page are incorrect so it took us longer than it should have to get there. We also went to Trader Joe's on the way, which was my fault - I'm from out west originally and there aren't any of those in Upstate NY. I have to have their orange flavored cranberries. We also brought snacks for the river.

We played in the water, some of us surfing the big wave more or less successfully, others practicing in the smaller stuff. There weren't a lot of people there, so there was very little waiting to get on, which was nice. By the end of the afternoon we were starting to feel chilly so we dispersed, Dounan and I toward the west, the others north. The sunset was gorgeous. http://www.flickr.com/photos/47911494@N06/sets/72157625091228916/

I had a great time. Thanks so much to the UMOC folks for welcoming Dounan and me and organizing all the entertainment, both on and off the river!

Lookin' forward to the next Joint Outing. COC, we need to step up and show these guys a good time in NY...

anja

-- HarrisonGill - 05 Oct 2010